What is reform UK?

Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the UK. It campaigns for much lower immigration, tax cuts, cutting regulation and net zero targets, and political reform. It grew out of the Brexit Party, renamed in 2021, and won five seats and 14% of the vote at the 2024 general election.

The party was founded as the Brexit Party in 2018, after the EU referendum. It won the most UK seats at the 2019 European elections. After Brexit it changed its name and widened its focus to immigration, tax, energy and what it calls a broken political system. It has campaigned heavily on social media and drawn many former Conservative and some former Labour voters.

Reform's 2024 vote share of about 14% was the third highest of any party. Under first past the post, that turned into only five seats. It has since gained ground through a by-election win, defections and local elections. In May 2026 it won 17 seats in the Scottish Parliament and 34 in the Senedd, becoming the second largest party in Wales.

Its main policies include sharply cutting immigration and leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. It also wants to raise the income tax threshold, scrap net zero targets and overhaul the Lords. Supporters say it speaks for voters ignored by the main parties. Critics question how its plans would be paid for and say its tone on migration is divisive.

Led by Nigel Farage. Platform: a large income tax cut paid for by welfare and spending cuts, stopping small boat crossings, suspending asylum, leaving the ECHR, scrapping net zero and cutting energy bills.

Key pledges

• Raise the personal allowance to £15,000 within 100 days, rising later to £20,000
  The amount people can earn before paying income tax rises from £12,570 to £15,000, and later to £20,000.
• Reverse the inheritance tax changes for family farms
  Undo changes that put inheritance tax on large farms and family businesses passed on from April 2026.
• About £80bn of spending cuts, including around £50bn a year from welfare
  Cut public spending by about £80bn a year, with around £50bn from welfare.
• Bar foreign nationals, including EU citizens with settled status, from most benefits
  Most benefits would only be paid to British citizens, including taking them away from EU citizens with settled status.
• Change sickness and disability benefits to save about £22bn a year
  Change the rules for sickness and disability benefits to save about £22bn a year.
• Remove VAT from household energy bills permanently
  Remove the 5% VAT on household gas and electricity bills for good.
• Take policy costs off energy bills and scrap carbon taxes on generators, saving households £250 a year
  Move the costs of green and social schemes off energy bills and scrap carbon taxes on power stations.
• Fast-track new North Sea oil and gas licences
  Speed up the approval of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
• Scrap net zero targets and green subsidies
  Drop the legal target of net zero by 2050 and end subsidies for green energy.
• Stop small boat crossings within 100 days, and detain and deport people who arrive illegally
  Stop people crossing the Channel in small boats within 100 days, and detain and remove those who arrive.
• Suspend the asylum system for up to five years
  Stop handling asylum claims for up to five years.
• Leave the European Convention on Human Rights
  The UK would leave the European Convention on Human Rights and its court in Strasbourg.
• Abolish indefinite leave to remain, so migrants must apply for new visas after five years
  Scrap permanent settlement for migrants, so they must keep applying for new visas.
• Raise the salary threshold for work visas considerably and toughen English requirements
  Raise the minimum salary needed for a work visa well above the current £41,700 and make English requirements stricter.
• Keep the Bank of England independent but drop its net zero duties, and reform the OBR
  The Bank of England stays independent but no longer considers climate goals, and the official forecaster, the OBR, is reformed.
• Loosen planning rules and favour building on brownfield land
  Make planning rules easier and favour building on previously used land, such as old factories.